Microsoft gets serious about retail stores with exec hire

Remember those pretend Microsoft stores from last month? Looks like the crew at Redmond are taking that idea one step closer to reality. The company's announced that former DreamWorks SKG exec, and more interestingly Wal-Mart veteran, David Porter has joined up as corporate vice president of retail stores to "create a better PC and Microsoft retail purchase experience" and -- here's the key -- develop Microsoft-branded stores. Porter's first order of business will be defining a time frame, locations and specifics for the retail rollout. We can't wait to see how the Simpsons mock this one.